BOSTON -- The early-season trend of pitching prospects coming up to the Red Sox and making their Major League debuts is about to add another chapter, as the club is expected to add lefty Eduardo Rivera to the roster in time for Wednesday’s game against the Yankees, a source told MLB.com.
The club has not confirmed the addition of Rivera, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 26 prospect and was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday but didn’t pitch.
So Rivera will make the jump from Double-A to the Red Sox in hopes of helping a 9-14 club bounce back from early-season doldrums.
To make room for Rivera on the roster, the Red Sox will option right-hander Jack Anderson, who made his Major League debut at Target Field against the Twins last week.
The combination of some recent shortened starts from the rotation and a right hamstring strain that placed righty Sonny Gray on the 15-day injured list has left the Red Sox trying to piece it together from a pitching standpoint the last few days.
Listed at 6-foot-7 and 237 pounds, the 22-year-old Rivera stands out with his size and a unique backstory.
Rivera, who is from Puerto Rico, was an 11th-round selection of the Athletics in the 2021 Draft. After battling injuries and control for several years, Rivera was released by the A’s in 2024 and signed three weeks later by the Red Sox.
It is unclear how the Sox will deploy Rivera, who has been used as a starter and reliever in his Minor League career. The team hasn’t said who will fill in for Gray in the rotation while he is out, though the team’s No. 1 prospect, Payton Tolle, is a clear candidate to be called up from Worcester later this week.
COMPLETE RED SOX PROSPECT COVERAGE
Rivera has made two starts for Double-A Portland this season, going 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA, while walking three and striking out 16 over 10 innings. Rivera has a mid-90s fastball that has topped out at 98, and his slider is also a weapon.
Lefty reliever Tyler Samaniego and Rule 5 righty Ryan Watson are other pitchers who have made their MLB debuts for the Red Sox in recent weeks.